Giants sign Cullen Jenkins, but work still needs to be done at DT

The Giants signed Cullen Jenkins tonight. Just as a reminder, free agency begins on Tuesday, but the Giants were able to sign Jenkins because the Eagles cut him.

On NFL Network earlier this week, Osi Umenyiora was talking about the Giants’ disappointing season on defense last year, and the lack of pressure generated on opposing QBs. Umenyiora said that a major factor was that they weren’t able to stop the run effectively, and when you can’t stop the run, it makes it that much harder to get to the QB. He’s right. Last season, the Giants held opposing offenses to less than 125 rushing yards 7 times. They went 6-1 in those games. They went 3-6 in games they allowed more than 125. (See the graph to the right)

Jenkins is still an effective interior pass rusher, but he wasn’t very good against the run last season, which is what the Giants really need. Linval Joseph took a step back last season, in my opinion, and was often moved off the line of scrimmage with ease. Jenkins isn’t going to help in that regard. The team also has Shaun Rogers, who potentially could be that run stuffer, but he’ll turn 34 this week, and has a laundry list of injuries. The Giants have gotten nothing out of 2011 2nd round pick Marvin Austin.

Jenkins’ deal is worth $8 million over 3 years, which includes a $2 million signing bonus and $3 million in guaranteed money. That’s a pretty good deal for the Giants, and Jenkins is a nice role player. However, this signing should not mean that the Giants are done upgrading the DT position with a player that can be a solid contributor in the run game.

17 Comments

[...] I like Jenkins as a pass rushing role player, he will not help much against the run. I got into a lot more detail on Jenkins and the Giants’ run D a couple weeks ago. The move is fine if the Giants have plans on acquiring another DT who can [...]

[...] I like Jenkins as a pass rushing role player, he will not help much against the run. I got into a lot more detail on Jenkins and the Giants’ run D a couple weeks ago. The move is fine if the Giants have plans on acquiring another DT who can [...]

[...] I like Jenkins as a pass rushing role player, he will not help much against the run. I got into a lot more detail on Jenkins and the Giants’ run D a couple weeks ago. The move is fine if the Giants have plans on acquiring another DT who can [...]

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I would just say that he had been a an okay run stuffer, until he was in the Wide 9. So, as a Giants fan, I have some hope he can help out a bit with the run stopping, but I am not counting on it either.

Your wrong on at least one result, as the Redskins infamous safety play gave up a long, game winning TD right after RG3 threw what should have been a game winning TD in the first game between the Redskins and Giants last year. The rushing numbers were right, but the result isn’t.